While reviewing the Sierra’s Communication Sites websites, I noticed that several corresponded to fire lookouts. In fact, looking back at our field visit last summer, I recall going to Music Mt. and thinking “when did we turn that lookout into a radio tower?” Our lookouts look more like cell phone towers than fire spotting facilities. I think that visualy this makes for a dramatic scene.
Miami Mountain Lookout and Communications Site
“As one of the pioneer forests, the Sierra National Forest gave birth to a variety of fire lookouts in the early 1900’s.” Sierra Centennial by Gene Rose
Miami Mountain, T.6S., R.20E., Section 11
Sierra National Forest
March 27, 2006
Mariposa County, California
Photos by:
Cynthia A. Whelan
Assistant Lands and Hydroelectric Officer
Sierra National Forest
“Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 on the Mariposa Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest, Miami Mountain Lookout remains in active service, and is now staffed with volunteers. The 14′ x 14′ C-3 cab with catwalk is mounted on a 20′ H-braced steel tower. It is one of three lookouts still standing on the district.” Forest Fire Lookout Association, www.firelookout.org
These icons of firefighting are no longer King of the Mountain. The landscape is becoming populated with modern towers with a different perspective and a contemporary mission: telecommunications. The first communication facility on Miami Mountain was constructed by Sierra Telephone in 1971 for microwave relay, and in the early 1980’s Outback Inc. and California Sierra Towers facilities were authorized.
Today, this lookout is sharing the mountain with a multiple-use building, several towers, solar power generating systems, back-up generators, grounding systems, propane tanks, access ways, parking areas, a low-power two-way radio, a USFS RAWS station, an internet service provider, a weather station, USGS seismic equipment, broadcast translators, cellular phone electronics, fences, gates, cables, conduits, two full power FM radio transmitters and a porta-potty.
These metaphors of Miami Mountain beg us to ask philosophical questions about change. I hope these photos speak to you.
I want to thank Bass Lake Ranger District employees Karen Nooney and Gayne Sears for taking me to this place
